Fluid fuel control system



Jan. 19, 1932. w. .1. sNow FLUID FUEL CONTROL lSYS'IEM Filed July 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet.

gnvenb'o atto: nu*

Jan. 19, 1932. W, J, vSNOW FLU'ID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1926 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED vSTA TES PATENT OFFICE WALLACE J. snow, or LAKEWOOD, oHIo, AssrGNon, BY Mnsnn AsisIeNMEN'rs, 'ro THE j j cLEvELANn HEATER contraint, or CLEVELAND, omo, A ooarona'rron or omol FLUID FUEL coN'rnoL SYSTEM Application mea July 1e, ieee: serial No. 123,561.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid beaters using fluid-f-uel and particularly automatic fuel controlling mechanism for such heaters. It hasv for itsv primary ob- 5 jects the provision of a combined thermostatic and thermally actuated controlling means in which the number of parts are reduced to a minimum and a compact arrangement secured ;V and the provision of controllingmeans m in which the thermostatic and thermally actuated mea-ns are so associated that the gas flow to the burners is controlled in a positive, safe, and reliable manner. f l l Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying Set of drawings whereinl Fig. l is a side elevation of a storage automatic heat-er embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in section'of the thermall y actuated valve;

Fig. 3 is a sect-ion taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

I Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 1 -4, Fig. 2.

ln the application of my invention shownv in Fig. 1, the numeral l indicates a storage water tank, the water of which is heated in the usual manner by a gaseous fuel burner 3,

furnishing heat for water circulating elements of the usual type housed inthe casing 2. Gaseous lhiel is supplied by afmaiu fuel line 4.

The burner control system in this device includes a thermostatic valve 5, and a thermally :wtuatedvalve 6. A constantly burning pilot 7. is positioned adjacent the thermally actu ated valve. Gas to this pilot is supplied by the line 2l, controlled by the needle valve 8. A manually operablevalve 9; is located in thc gas line between theneedle valve 8, and the thcrmostatic valve 5. Ain intermittentl)1 4o lnirning, or auxiliailyburner 10, isfpositioned between the constantly burning pilot 7, and the thermally actuated valve'6i Gas to the burner l0 is controlled, in the `present case, by the thermostaticvalve 5' and the thermally actuated valve `6in a manner tube-described in detail'presently.

The thermally actu-ated valveG. is shov'n in detail in the enlarged sectionalview Fig. 2. This valve consists of a valve casing' 12,.pro-

53 videdrwith inlet and outlety connections, and",

having-a valve seat 17, formed integrally therein, and having a removable valve seat l5. tlii'eatli-,tlly engaged in-suid casing, opposite to and in axial alignment with the first named valve scat.v A. disc `shaped valve head 18, faced on cach side 'with-a yieldingr material 18, such as leather,eo-acts with the valve seats 17 and -15-to control the flow of Huid through the passages controlled therehy. The valve head 18 is mounted upon a valve stem 19 by means of a ball and socket joint 20, 'allowing the valve head to adjust itself to its seat. The valve casing' 12, is

mounted upon a valve housing 13, by means ot' screws 14. The auxiliary burner v10, is adapted to heat a'bimetallic thermally rcsponsive element 11 which is located in a.

housing formed in part by the shield 24 which is secured to the housing 13 by the screw 25. As shown m Fig. 2 the housing -13 is provided with covers having apertures 96 for thc purpose of supplying cooling air to the thermostntic strip 11. .The air thus supplied is directed against the strip l1 and drawn into the interior of the hea-ter 2 by way of the openings provided above and hclow the shield 24. By this arrangement heat. from the main burner 3 or the pilot burner 7 is prevented' from eecting the operation of the -thermostatic strip 11, and uponA the cxtinguishment of the burner 10, the strip 1l' cools and shifts the valve to its closed position. This thermal element is of thc usual construction and 1s made, 1n the present 1nvstance,`-l' y bonding or welding a strip of metal ll having a high coefficient expansion. such as Monel metal or brass, to a strip of metalv ll having a low coefficient of expansion such us Inval' or 3676 nickel steel. 'By reason of the differential expansion of the two different metals of which the strip lly is madc, power is jun to urge, it to the end of the arc of its travel. 'lhe adjustable pin 31 is held in position by the sel, screw 212. The lever Q8, has a eut-out portion through which the valve stem 1f) projects. The lever 28 is provided with contacting edges 40, to engage with the annulaifianges 31- and 35 of the internallv threaded sleeve :i3 which is held in position on the valve stem 19 by means of a lock nut 36. Diaphragm packing means 37 are clamped about the valve stem 19. by a lock nut 39 and bearing element 39 journalied in the threaded plug 38 which holds the diaphragni in Huid tight engagement with a bored out portion of the casing 12. The element 1G having the valve seat 15 formed upon its inner face provides an abutment for the spring 41. A needle valve casing 43 is screwed into the outer end of this spring abutment. The valve includes an adjustment needle L12 and the closure cap 44. A gas feed pipe Q3 leads from this valve to the burner 10. Rotation of the valve stem is prevented. by means of a lug 19 on the valve stem 19 longitudinally movable in the slot 12.

The operation of the valve shown in Fig. 2 is substantially as follows: Assuming the parts to he in the position shown in Fig. Q `:zas is admitted' to the valve by way of the ronduit 4. passes into the adjustment valve easing 4B by way of the uncovered valve seat 15 and thence to the conduit 23 and burner 10 where it is ignited b v the constantly burning pilot 7. The flame from the burner 10 heats the bimetallic strip 11 causing it to Warp to the left and to move the lever 28 just past its dead center position when its edge t0 then makes contact with the annular projection and the spring 30 snaps the valve and its associated mechanism to the extreme left or open position. This action covers the valve seat 15 and uncovers the seat 1,7 permitting gaseous fue] in the present instance to pass by Way of conduit 4 to the main burners where it is ignited by the pilot flame 7. The extinguishment of the flame of the auxiliary burner 10 by the closure of the. valve seat 15 allows the strip 11 to gradually cool and in so doing the link 27 and lever 28 are shifted to the. right. The spring 41 now causes the valve head 18 and rod 19 to 'follow the movement of the oscillating lever and provides a regulating valve with the seat 15. 1n this manner a regulated tloW of is admitted to the burner 10 sufficient to hold vthe valve open without over-heating the the valve, that is when gas is being admitted to tho main luirner. the burner 10 has a tiny flame of about. 1A; of an inch in height. AUpon cutting oil the supply of gas to the thermally actuated valve, the flame from the burner U1 is extinguished and the strip 1l cools and closes the valve. Thel pilot fiume 7 is noi'- mally adjusted so that its heat is insufficient to cilect the operation of the stri 11. Adjustment of the. valve is provided Y or at three places. Raising or lowering the pin 31 determines the tension in the spring 30 which governs the force required to shift the valve to open or closed position affecting both these shifts in the same manner as for example, increasing the tension in the spring would cause the valve to take a longer time to open as Well as a longer time to close. The contacting edges of thelever 28 have a lim4 ited amount of free play between the annular -iangesft and 35. This free movement allows the oscillating lever to have just passed its dead center position before it starts to open the valve and b v using the energy stored in the spring 30 the lever and valve are quickly shifted to open position with what is commonly called a snap action.

Tn order to take rare, of the wear of the valve parts and inaccuracies in machining,

. the sleeve 33 with its annular projections 34 directed to the fact that when properly ad. i i

justed the valve provides a snap-acting valve with the seat 17 and a regulating valve with the seat 15. In order to take care of difierent gas pressures a needle valve 42 is provided whereby the height of the flame from` the burner 10 is controlled. and regulated. The thermostatic valve 5 may-be of any suil able type adapted to extend into the tank 1 and he. responsive to the temperature of the fluid within the tank.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a battery of burners may be controlled by one or more devices of the present invention. It is to be noted that in the operation of my device the. presence of a burner ignition pilot fiame is necessary before it is possible to admit gas to the main burners. obviating the danger of having unhurned gas issue from such burners;

Furthermore. it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and'illustration and that various modiications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as'defined in the appended claims.

claim:

1. In a fluid fuel fired heat-ing appliance the combinationof a continuously operati ng pilot burner, a main burner and an auxiliary burner positioned to be ignited thereby, a source of (luid fuel supply, a thermally actuated valve in communication therewith for controlling the fuel supply of said main burner, a thermostatie actuator for said valve directly exposed to the heat of said auxiliary burner, meansl to direct a supply of cooling air to said thermostatic actuator, means to shield said thormostatic actuator from the heat emitted from said main burner and said pilot burner. a fuel supply line communicating with said source of fuel supply at a point ahead of said thermally actuated valve for conducting fuel around said valve to said auxiliary burner, and valve means in said fuel supply line for controllingr the operation of said auxiliary burner whereby when said valve means is in open valve position gas is supplied to said auxiliary burner maintaining said thermally actuated valve in open position for the purpose of supplying gas to said main burner, and when said valve means is closed said auxiliary burner is extinguished allowing said thermally aetnated valve to close and out off the fuel supply Y of said main burner.

2. In a Huid fuel fired heating appliance the combination of a continuouslyoperated vilot burner, a main burner and an auxiliary liurncr positioned to be ignited thereby` a source of fluid fuel supply, a thermally actuated valve in communieation therewith for controlling` the fuel supply of said main burner` a thermostatic actuator for said valve directly exposed to the heat of said auxiliary burner, a shield for concentrating the heat of said auxiliary burner onto said thermostatic actuator and for shielding it from the heat of said main burner and said pilot burner, a fuel supply line eommunieating with saidsource of fuel supply at a point ahead of said thermally actuated valve for conducting fuel around said valve to said auxiliary burner. and valve means in said fuel supply line for controlling the operation of said auxiliary burner whereby when said valve means is in open valve position -lgas is supplied to said auxiliary burner maintaining said thermally. actuated valve in open position for the purpose of supplying gas to said main burner, and when said valve means is closed said auxiliary burner is extinguished allowing said termally actnated valve to closeand cnt oil' the fuel supply of said main burner. v

3. In a fluid 'fuel fired heating appliance the combination of a continuously operated pilot burner, a main burner and an auxiliary burner positioned to be ignited thereby, a

source of fluid fuel supply, a thermally actu ated valve in communication therewith for controlling the fuel supply of said main burner, a thermostatic actuator for said valve direct-ly exposed to the heat of said auxiliary burner, mea-ns to shield said thermostatic. actuator from the'heat emitted by said main burner and said pilot burner, a fuel supply line communicating with said source of `fuel supply at a point ahead of said thermally actuated valve for conducting fuel around said valve to said auxiliary burner` and valve means in said fuel supply line for controlling the operation of said auxiliary burner whereby when said. valve means is in open valve position.. gas is supplied tosaid auxiliary burner n'iaintaining said thermally actuated valve in open position for the purpose of supplying gas to said main burner,

and when said Valve means closed said" auxiliary burner is extinguished allowing said thermally actuated valve to close and cut olf the fuel supply of said main burner.

4. In a thermostatic valve, a constantly burning pilot burner, an auxiliary pilot burner, a thermostatie element adjacent to aid auxiliary pilot burner. an adjustable link connected to said element. snap action mechanism operatively engaged by said link, a valve stem controlled by said snap action mechanism and loosely coupled therewith, a valve head carried by said valve stem, resilient means to oppose the movement of said valve head in one direction whcreby said valve head directly follows the movement of said thermostatic element over a portion of its travel. and a valve body havingr a valve port controlled by said valve. head.

5. ln a thermostatic valve. a constantly burning pilot burner. an auxiliary pilot burner. a thermostatic clement adjacent to said auxiliary pilot burner, an adjustable link connected to said element` snap action mechanism operatively engaged by said link, a valve stem controlled by said snap action mechanism and loosely coupled therewith, a valve head carried by said Valve stem, resilient means adapted by reason of said loosely coupled valve stem to urge said valve head towards said thcrmostatic element to directly follow the movement thereof after said element has .moved suliicicntly to take up the lost motion provided by the loosely coupled connection between said valve stem and said snap action mechanism, and a valve body having a valve port controlled by said valve head.

6. In a safety control and ignition system for gas burning appliances having a main heating burner` a thermostatic gas valve comprising a. thermostatie element., a burner positioned to supply heat to said element for the operation of said valve, a. valve body haviner a pair of axially aligned valve ports one -ofwhich eonnnunicates with said burner and the other of which communicates with said seats in opposition to movement of said valve away from the other of said seats by .said temperature respoiisive means.

l5. In a safety control and ignition apparatus for gas burning appliances having a main heating burner, a valve housing, a pair of ports one of which is in communication with said main heating burner, an auxiliary burner in counnunication with the other of said ports, a valve operatively associated with said ports, thermally actuated meansI responsive to the heat supplied by said auxiliary burner for actuating said valve7 a constantly burning pilot in lighting proximity to said auxiliary burner, and resilient means acting in opposition to said thermally actuated means for regulating the flow of fuelv through one of said ports to said auxiliary burner to maintain said thermally actuated means within predeterniined limits of temperature when the other of said ports is uncovered by said valve.

16. In a safety control and ignition apparatus for gas burning appliances having a main heating burner, a air of Vports one of which is in communication with said main heating burner, an auxiliary burner in communication with the other of Said ports, a valve Within said housing operatively associated With said ports and normally closing the port communicating with said main burner, thermally actuated means responsive. to the heat supplied by said auxiliary burner for moving said valve away from the said normally closed port and toward the other of said ports, means resiliently urging said valve toward the said normally closed port against the action of said thermally actuated means for regulating the iow of fuel through the said other port to said auxiliary burner to thereby maintain said thermally actuated means Within predetermined limits of temperature when the said normally closed port is open, and a constantly burning ignition pilot in lighting proximityt-o said auxiliary burner.

17. In a thermostatic valve, a valve housing having a pair of axially aligned valve ports, means for controlling the iow of fuel to said housing, a valve head positioned between said ports and adapted to cooperate with said ports, a main burner in communication with one of said ports, an auxiliary burner in communication with the other` of said ports, a constantly burning ignition pilot in lighting proximity to said main and auxiliary burners, thermally responsive means responsive to heat supplied by said auxiliary burner for actuating said valve head, and resilient means acting in opposition to said thermally responsive means for regulating the flow of fuel through the one port to said auxiliary burner, whereby fuel is continuously supplied to said main burner VJfrom the other of said ports as long as fuel is supplied to said valve housing.

18. A main burner and an auxiliary burner in communication with a thermally actuated valve, said valve comprising a housing having main and auxiliary outlet ports communicating-With said main and auxiliary burners respectively, valve means mounted in said housing to cooperate with said ports to con'- trol the flow of fuel to said main burner and regulate the flow of fuel to said auxiliary burner when fuel is supplied to said housing, thermostatic actuating means responsive in its operation to the heat supplied by said auxiliary burner mounted to-aetuate said valve means, whereby said valve means upon actuation by said thermostatic actuating means may regulate the flow of fuel to said auxiliary burner, and a constantly burning ignition pilot in lighting proximity to said auxiliary burner.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALLACE J. SNOW. 

